How Shared Hobbies Build Lasting Friendships
A shared hobby does more of the relationship-building work than most people realize. Here's why activity-based friendships tend to stick.
Read the article
Chicago's Activity Partner Community Since 2020
Find Real Activity Partners In Chicago
My Mate Finder matches you with fellow Chicagoans who actually want to run the Lakefront Trail at 7am, try a new hiking group, or fill out a Saturday pickup game. Answer a short quiz, get matched with people nearby, and show up to something real instead of scrolling another app alone.
260+
Activities hosted this year
4,600+
Members Across Chicagoland
260+
Activities Hosted Every Year
40
Active Interest Groups & Clubs
2020
Founded Right Here In Chicago
How It Works
Three Steps To Your Next Activity Partner
No cold-messaging strangers and no complicated profile to build. Here's what actually happens after you sign up.
1
Tell Us What You're Into
Share your interests, your schedule, and the kind of activity partner you're hoping to find. It takes about five minutes, and you control how much you share.
2
Get Matched
A real My Mate Finder coordinator pairs you with compatible activity partners or points you toward the groups and events that fit your calendar.
3
Show Up And Connect
Meet your match at a low-key group run, class, or meetup. No forced icebreakers, just people who already have an interest in common with you.
What We Offer
Built Around How Chicagoans Actually Stay Active
Four ways My Mate Finder gets you from "new to the city" or "stuck in a routine" to "got plans this weekend."
Activity Matching
Answer a short compatibility quiz and get paired with activity partners who share your interests, fitness level, and schedule.
See how matching worksLocal Events & Meetups
From weekday morning runs to weekend hikes, we host several meetups a week across Chicago neighborhoods.
Browse upcoming activitiesGroup Activities & Clubs
Join a running crew, a cycling club, or a Saturday pickup basketball game — recurring groups turn activity partners into real friends.
Explore our groupsMember Safety & Screening
Every member verifies their identity before a first meetup, and a trained host is on-site at every My Mate Finder activity.
Read our safety tips
Welcome To My Mate Finder
Built By Chicagoans Who Wanted A Regular Running Crew
My Mate Finder started in 2020 as a group chat between five coworkers who kept saying they'd get back into a routine "once things settled down." A few sunrise runs along the lakefront turned into a standing Saturday group, then a hiking crew, then an actual organization with a small staff and an office in the Loop.
We are not a dating app and we are not a networking group. Every quiz question, group, and event is built around one goal: helping adults across Chicago find people to actually do things with, whether you just moved here, your old training partner moved away, or your calendar has been empty on weekends for longer than you'd like to admit.
Every member verifies their identity before attending a first meetup
A trained My Mate Finder host is present at every group activity, no exceptions
Groups stay small — usually six to twelve people — so nobody gets lost in the crowd
New activities are added across Chicago neighborhoods every single week
4.8/5
Average member rating from over 700 reviews
89%
Of new members attend a second activity within 60 days
Real Stories
What Our Members Say
My Mate Finder members from around Chicago on what changed after they joined. Read more on our success stories page.
★★★★★
"I moved to Chicago for a job and didn't know a single person outside my office. Within a month of joining, I had a standing Tuesday run with four people I now consider real friends."
Amanda Reyes
Lincoln Park · Member since 2023
★★★★★
"I'm not great at making the first move, so the quiz did the hard part for me. My hiking group still meets every other Saturday almost two years later."
Marcus Bell
Logan Square · Member since 2022
★★★★★
"I joined the cookbook club mostly to get out of my apartment more and ended up with a group text I actually look forward to. It doesn't feel like a club anymore, just my friends."
Traci Nguyen
Hyde Park · Member since 2023
Tips & Guides
From The Journal
Practical advice on finding activity partners, staying safe when meeting new people, and building friendships that actually last.
Finding Workout Partners in Your City
A workout partner changes whether you actually show up. Here's a practical approach to finding one who sticks around.
Read the article
Safe Meetup Practices Everyone Should Know
Meeting people you first connected with online takes a bit of preparation. These habits cost you nothing and remove most of the risk.
Read the article
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything people usually ask before their first My Mate Finder activity.
Q. What is My Mate Finder?
My Mate Finder is a Chicago-based community that matches adults with activity partners and runs weekly meetups, from morning runs to hiking trips, so members have an easy, low-pressure way to build a real social circle around the things they already enjoy doing.
Q. How much does it cost to join?
Creating a profile and taking the activity-matching quiz is free. Most group activities run $10 to $25 to cover the venue, gear rental, or instructor, and the price is always listed before you RSVP.
Q. Do I have to show up to activities alone?
Most members do, and that's by design — showing up solo is the fastest way to actually meet new people. If you'd rather bring someone, many activities allow one guest for a small added fee.
Q. How does the matching quiz work?
You'll answer questions about your interests, your fitness level, your schedule, and what you're looking for in an activity partner. A My Mate Finder coordinator reviews your answers and places you with compatible members or groups.
Q. Is My Mate Finder only for one age group?
Our members mostly range from their late twenties to early fifties, though we welcome any adult over 21 who's looking for activity partners and real friendships. Groups are often organized loosely by pace, skill level, and interest.
Q. Where do activities take place?
Activities happen all over Chicagoland, including Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, Logan Square, Hyde Park, and the West Loop. Every listing includes the exact address plus parking or transit notes.
Get In Touch
Say Hello
Questions about membership, a specific activity, or a group you'd like to start? Reach out any way that's easiest for you.
Visit Us
200 E Randolph St, Suite 5100
Chicago, IL 60601
Chicago, IL 60601
Call Us
Email Us
Office Hours
Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–6:00 PM CT
Most activities run mornings and weekends — check each listing for exact times.